Cinderella Man (Widescreen Edition)

Excellent:1) One of the few boxing movies I've seen where the main character actually LOOKS like a prizefighter. (Raging Bull was another.) If you want to see a real DISASTER in that respect, check out Montgomery Cliff in From Here to Eternity. If the supposed champion boxer looks like Pee Wee Herman, that's a problem.2) The fight sequences are thrilling. The best I've ever seen-- totally convincing.3) The film absolutely nails 1930's NYC, and the Great Depression. A lot of beautiful small touches, i.e., the use of that Eddie Cantor song about how everybody's broke; the phantasmagoric look of the Hooverville at night.4) The excitement of the fight world which this film re-creates-- the sports writers; the ringside announcers; the judges and their scorecards, and all the flashbulb cameras popping. Wow. I felt like I was THERE!5) The depiction of how HUMILIATING poverty must've been for ordinary working people. These weren't drug addicted derelicts who made lousy choices. A bitter experience indeed. (spoiler alert: the scene where Braddock has to BEG his old friends for money to pay his family's electric bill. It is terrific.)Quibbles:1) The film is just too damn long. I can see why Howard didn't want to cut any of it, though. I suspect it might've been possible to trim at least 15 minutes without cutting entire scenes, but what do I know? A few of the domestic scenes seemed as if they could do with a little pruning... and be the better for it.2) That instrumental background Muzak. I don't need stringed instruments to help me feel sad or happy about what I'm seeing up on the screen! Ron Howard has a weakness for this. It's noticeable in all of his films that I've seen.P.S. Some of the critical reviews objected to the cursing. Funny! I guess the Depression-era fight scene wasn't very... refined.

Aside from the different timeframe and Cinderella Man actually based on real life James Braddock, this bare quite similarity to Stallone's Rocky 1. Same deal.. (aside from this being during the Great Depression era) a down and out boxer gets a once in an lifetime chance to fight a high card (due to an opponent being injured and the promoter has to find a replacement fast.) Rocky got that Cinderella chance with heavyweight champ Apollo Creed and eventually beating Creed to gain the championship title. Braddock the same with a 2nd rank contender, then eventually beating Max Baer to gain the title. Both as underdog came out on top as David slaying Goliath.The real life fight between Braddock and Baer wasn't so exciting, nor near as brutal as this movie. Still, leave it up to Hollywood to make it into an enjoyable and inspiring movie; and blood spilling dramatic fight scenes.

True story about a man who did what he needed to do ….he had integrity….great story

This is basically the real life Rocky movie minus the creepy scene where Rocky pressures Adrian into making out with him.

Good to see a leading man with scruples.

Like the story line from the depths of poverty to success. Way to go Russell Crow.

You will get very excited and emotional at the end

Cinderella Man is the second best movie for Russell Crowe after Gladiator. The movie is a combination of comedy, drama, tragedy, and action. Everyone in this movie was great, showing how in the great depression, some people helped, but others took advantage of people's needs.

My heart was firmly lodged in my throat for the last hour and a half of The Cinderella Man. Nobody does true-story heroism like Ron Howard, and few can do heroes like Russell Crowe. Though Howard fictionalizes his subjects, and does not pretend to make documentaries, he does accurately depict the feeling and the major points of his subjects.Jim Braddock was a depression-era boxer who everybody thought was down for the count. Though there is a lot of boxing in this film, this is not a boxing movie, but rather his story and the story of the family that inspired him to fight back against prejudice and hopelessness, to rise to heights that would inspire a nation. Braddock is portrayed in a moving and powerful manner, with remarkable performances all around, one of the best scripts I can remember in recent years, and occasionally brutal action.

Like all blu-rays when compared to watching the DVD version or an old video one watching this film is a clearer, more detailed experience and in many cases it's like looking at the film for the first time as the film stock used to transfer to Blu-Ray is usually "worked on" first to get as good a copy as possible. My taste in films may not be the same as yours so if you want to know about this film I suggest that you use the internet to find 2 or 3 reviews by experienced film reviewers and make your judgment whether or not to buy this film. I I have watched over 650 films in my life and I rate this one 8/10.

Cinderella Man has to be one of the greatest films I have ever watched. The fact that this was based on a true story really puts things into perspective. The film tells the story of James Braddock's life to ultimately acheiving his greatest success against Max Baer and is one of the great underdog stories. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the late 1920's early 1930's, this film is both gritty and evocative and has excellent boxing scenes. All in all it is just a wonderful film with great fight scenes, excellent acting and a very emotional and powerful story. Honestly I can not speak highly of it enough. Just watch it.

Cinderella Man is a great boxing movie with Rusell Crowe portraying James Bradock life story. He does a great job I have to say. Only big flaw in the movie is the portayal of Max Baer. They show him as a terrible person, a ruthless boxer but the reality is totaly different. Yes Max Baer killed fighters in the ring but not because he did it intentionally but because it happened and he fell bad for all of them.Max Baer was very admired and a great person according to all of those who knew him. Blu Ray picture quality is really good.

A superb film. A fantastic performance by Crowe - powerful, moving and inspiring. Paul Giamatti is brilliant in a supporting role as is Rene Zelwegger. Only small gripe is the portrayal of Max Schmelling as something of a 'beast' which is a bit harsh on the real man.